November 17, 2017, by Carla

Ingenuity18: Kickstart Your Journey of Innovation

By Elizabeth Smith, Development Consultant and Ingenuity18 Events Producer

As the home of MRI, the University of Nottingham has a long history of creating innovative solutions to the challenges the world poses. Ingenuity18 is a journey of exploration, a re-engagement around the problems facing contemporary society, and a chance to discover disruptive and innovative solutions to how we address them.

We’re looking to discover and develop the next generation of innovators in the UK, Malaysia and China, and equip them to go out into the world and lead change.

Realise your creative potential

From the inspiration gained at the Ingenuity18 Ideas Summit, the knowledge gained through the Ingenuity18 Innovation Diploma, and the chance to compete for the opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of investors, there are a range of events from February to April 2018 that can help you realise your creative potential.

In an ever more competitive job market for graduates, Ingenuity18 is a fantastic opportunity to forge your own career path. You will achieve something that will make you stand out from the crowd, and develop a career that reflects your own social values.

A history of innovation

Past students have gone on to achieve amazing things. From the creation of affordable, high-quality defibrillators, to make-up brushes that empower cancer patients, and sustainable solutions to resource and energy crises around the world.

For these innovators, their entrepreneurial journey is not just about making money and being able to be their own boss. Their creativity and ambition enables them to tackle some of the biggest social and environmental injustices happening here in Nottingham, as well as in the wider world.

Last year’s winner

The value this can bring has really come to light through the work of last year’s Ingenuity Competition winner, Emma Hartley. Since graduating from product design and manufacturing in 2016, and dealing with the heart-break of losing a friend and fellow student to cardiac arrest, she has gone on to develop a ground-breaking product that will enable defibrillators to become much more affordable and accessible.

“I wanted to meet like-minded people who were also at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. At last year’s Ingenuity events, meeting the mentors, gaining their opinions and help, and hearing people’s journeys of how they got to where they are today was inspiring. It showed me that if you have personal motivation, there are no barriers, only obstacles to overcome.

Both entrepreneurs and designers hold the power to influence socially and environmentally conscious initiatives. It doesn’t matter whether you’re changing the world on a global scale, or something within a small community, we all have a responsibility to cause good change.” – Emma Hartley, Pulse AED

If you have an idea for innovation that you want to explore and develop, and want to be part of events filled with like-minded people from the University, as well as world-class thinkers and industry innovators, make sure you get involved with Ingenuity18. Applications are open now, so what are you waiting for?

Find out more about how to apply to Ingenuity18 and start your journey of innovation.

Ingenuity18 is open to all University of Nottingham students, alumni, early career researchers, as well as staff. Applications are open until Friday 26th January 2018.

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